consolation prize

noun

: a prize given to a runner-up or a loser in a contest

Examples of consolation prize in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
These aren't consolation prizes. — Harold Bell, Forbes.com, 18 June 2026 But the Lakers’ postseason run isn’t a bad consolation prize. — Los Angeles Times, 25 Apr. 2026 Word gradually made it around that their set had been cancelled, but our consolation prize came in the form of the only valid male pop star, 2hollis. — Walden Green, Pitchfork, 8 June 2026 For an investor managing risk as carefully as return, that’s not a consolation prize. — Ivan Barratt, Fortune, 14 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for consolation prize

Word History

First Known Use

1886, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of consolation prize was in 1886

Rhymes for consolation prize

See All Rhymes for consolation prize

Browse Nearby Words

consolation
consolation prize
consolator
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Consolation prize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/consolation%20prize. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on consolation prize

Nglish: Translation of consolation prize for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
hangman letters and game
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All